Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-01-15


Artfal Dodees by which some Great
Horses Have Been Ruined.
About half century ago at New
market several horses who stood high IN
the betting at different times suddenly
went off sick just before the race for
which they were entered; some died,
others recovered, but all were disabled
for the time being and favorites that q
few hours previously outstripped every
rival would come struggling yards behind
the field Every one knew they had
been ''nobbled, but for d long time the
perpetrator remained undiscovered; at
last, however, asB0torious scoundrel,
one Dan Dawson. was caught redhanded
poisoning thu troughs During the trial
it came out that he had made regular
trade of these nefarious practices, and It
was more than suspected that not few
OF the biggest men ON the turf were his
employers. But although he was con-
dennned to death, whether from the hope
that some among his influential patrons
would intercede for reprieve or from
that hatred which certain men Of his
class have against 'peaching, y he never
betrayed them and remained silent to
the end. The most minute precautions
are taken to guard the race horse from
such dangers. yet the cunning or daring
of his enemies frequently proves more
than match for the care Of his owners.
In 1S42 Lanercost was regarded as the
certain victor for the Ascot cup. While
he was being conveyed to the course in
a van the grooms in charge stopped at
an inn between Leatherhead and sun
ninghiil to refresh, leaving one to keep
watch Just after they had gone into
the house two sailors came out of it.
Hillo, cried one, here's Lanercost;
let's have peep at HIM. and he sprang
up on the side of the van while his COM
panion at the same time diverted the at
tention of the man ON guard. A mo-
ment afterward the first jumped down
again and then the two disappeared into
a copse. 1t was all done so quickly that
the groom had no time to interpose:
and before he could summon his mates
the men We're out of eight When the
race came on, instead OF achieving the
anticipated victory, poor Lanercost came
in last. In the course of the ensuing
month he entirely changed color and
was never fit to run again. There is no
doubt that the pretended sailor had con.
trived to administer some powerful
drug to the animal during the few
seconds he hung over his box.
Somewhere about the same time
horse named Marcus was the favorite
for the st. Leger. The day before the
race, while he and some other horses
were standing at the Doncaster Arms, an
i'll looking fellow entered the kitchen Of
that tavern and seated himself beside a
boiler from which the stable lads were
every now and then drawing water for
their charges. There was no one in the
kitchen save maid servant, whom the
stranger sent out to bring him pot of
beer When she returned the girl was
going to fill her tea kettle from the boiler,
but the fellow stopped her by saying.
Il wouldn't take my tea water from
there, if l was you, it looks so yellow and
greasy
All right; I'll get it outside, she an
swered. When she came back the second
time the man was gone
The nest morning two horses were
found dead in their stalls; while Marcus,
who was just able to run, came in last
and also died during the day Upon
the bodies being opened arsenic was
found in their stomachs. The girl then
remembered the incident of the loafer,
who had, no doubt, poisoned the water
in the conner: and had she baen ne sinh
born as most of her kind several human
victims would have been added to the
equine list. By the defeat of Marcus the
owner of horse named Chorister won
000.-Clhambers Journal.